The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-08
SOME PROBLEMS OF THEDAY
Important Questions Under Discussion
by the General Christian Conference.
Prof. Boyesen Talks Vigorously of Immigra
tion Evils, and Bishop Hurst and DR.. Pier
son Discuss the Church and the Masses.

conference
the Evangelical Alliance for the United States,
opened in this city this morning. The Congre
gational Church. in which the conference met,
and which is one of the largest in Washington,
was completely filled when President Dodge
called the meeting to order and briefly stated
the reasons which led to the gathering and the
results hoped for. The Alliance he said, had
thoughtfully studied the social and economic
changes in the country, and sought to know
whether existing Christian organizations were
sufficient to meet growing needs. He referred
to the organized power of the saloons. and said
the church had lost its hold on the workingmen.
Everywhere among them is unrest and a look
ing for higher good. This means grand oppor-
tunity for an applied Christianity. He said this
gathering was called that facts may be presented,
and conference held as to the opportunity and
the responsibility.
At the conclusion of President Dodges ad-
dress the Hon. John Jay. of New York, spoke
at length. The discussion of the subject was
continued by Rev. DR.. j. S. Mcpherson, of
Chicago
The attendance at the afternoon session
very large, AID many persons who were unable
to find seats remained standing in the aisles.
Ex-Justice Strong. of tbs United States Su-
preme Court, who presided, said that there had
never been time when such a rallying and
uniting of all that is best in the Christian church
was more imperatively needed than now. He
introduced Prof. Hjalmer Fl. Boyesen, of Column
bia College, who made short address upon the
subject of immigration. The Constitution of
the United States, he said, framed by men
of Anelo-Saxon origin, for their own gov
eminent, and pre-supposes the long polit-
ical evolution to which that race
has beer sub tad To
Anglo Saxon virtues moderation, self-re-
straint and sense of fair play of those not hav-
ing such antecedents is absurd. Immigration,
which draws from the lower strata of Europe is
changing the character of the people, and gradu-
ally eliminating the virtues which are indispens
able to successful self-government change
has come over the spirit of the immigrant, owing
TO the fact that he does not improve his lot
much as formerly by immigration. The Social
lists and the Anarchists come to avenge hero
what they suffered in Europe. By their dis
loyal sentiments and hostility to American insti-
tutions they disorganize and weaken the state.
The third estate (the industrial ciass) is the gov
erning class in this country. But the
fourth estate-the manual laborers who for
merly framed political demands-bas
raised its head, and has begun to con-
test with the third estate the directing
power il this country. Hence arise discontent
and social and economic CONFUSION. The speak
or, though reerettine this transfer of wer, did
not see how. with universal suffrage and unre-
strlcted immigration, it to be ayerted. He
believed that the time has arrived when our
former policy of indscrimiuate absorption of
foreign elements of population would result in
a serious crisis. The Nation no longer is able to
ass1milate the alien elements with sufficient
rapidity The children of aliens make q terrible
exhibit in the statistics of pauperism and crime.
They constitute largely the hoodlums and roughs
Of our cities. The public schools have intoxicat-
ed men with sense of independence without i'm
pressing upon them the responsibilities of lib
erty. The employers of labor. he
of immigration. More competition with
American labor enters in week through Castle
Garden than the prisons turn out in year. Pro-
lection to American labor Is a farce as long as
this nba-red food-gate remains open. Immi-
grafton has the effect OF lowering the grade of
American civilization by introducing an undue
competition with people VINO demand less of
life He had known Hungarians who saved
money on wages of 81 a dav. They changed
their linen once month and picked their din
ners out of ash barrels. Competition with such
people was impossible for self-respecting labor
People who live like pigs also presently be-
have like pigs. Prof. Boyeseu said in conclu-
sion, that he was in favor of a law which would
make consular inspection and certificate of
good character indispensable prerequisites
MISUNDERSTANDING 1ch law, in fact, as
is prorosed by Senator Palmer
general discussion followed in the course of
which Mr.. L. L. Baldwin, of Boston. said that
law requiring consuls to certify to the good
character of all immigrants might be a very
good thing, but the exclusion of Chinaman as
Chinaman lis an abomlnatlon." He did not
as those who mobbed the Chinese at Rock
Springs. and the exclusion of such Chinese as
those who were the victims of that outrage
Bishop Hurst. LII. d., of Buffalo addressed tine
members of the Alliance upon 1.-The Estrange-
ment of the Masses of the Church" He said in
substance: The American church has
provided either pastors or churches sufficient to
supply the spiritual needs of people. The
of the estrangement of the people is the
tagonism of the foreigners to our evangecallife.
We committed crime when prohibited the
immigration of the Chiuaman, and only did it
because he had no vote. The Sunday newspa-
per aids in the alienation of the people, because
the latter imagine they have in it substitute
for the gospel. Through our spiritual neglect of
the foreigner, we ground out the Anarchist.
Sabbath dissertation is also powerful in alienat-
ing the people, and the curse of the saloon per-
haps. is the most potent of ALL Women should |
De called by the church to a larger pl.ce in its |
ministrations and more laymen should be
brought in. We only touching the people
with the tips of fingers. The habit of ieav- |
ing the downtown population to be the devils
such conduct. Let the millions of gold be re-
leased from the saloon. and the world would be |
reclaimed in one decade.
Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, d. D.. pastor of the |
Bethany Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia,
continued the discussion of the same subject, |
and said that the tendency of the rich is to get
as far they can from the unwholesome and |
disaereeable surroundings of the poor. II |
found in New York" he said eighteen women |
and children. white and colored, occupying |
room. This blinded Samson of ignorant and |
unevangeized labor may get his arms around |
the pillars supporting our commonwealth and |
bring it down" He told of the daughter of |
Lord Peel, who rode out with him in a splendid |
habit made by poor seamstress in garrett. |
and who caught from it typhoid fever which |
laid her under ground in ten days AS |
a district begins to be known as q poor |
one, the churches move out toward the avenues. |
The churches seem to the poor like express |
trains made up entirely of Pullman cars. and |
no wonder The speaker deprecated tho new |
system, and said it was most potent means of |
preventing true fellowship in the church. 'Give |
us" he said, 1.-The worship of God and not of the |
architect; the convenience and not the incon- |
venience of the audience. and make all thor |
oughly cordial and horle-like, and we will have |
no trouble in overcoming the present estraugs- |
ment of the masses. The absolute equality of |
all relations explains the great power of that |
system in concerning and holding the DOOR"
The church crowded at the evening ses- |
sion which presided by Senator Col |
Quit, of Georgia The first paper read by |
Bishop Coke, of Buffalo, n Y, on ultra |